Notes

See The World: 5 Ways to Travel on the Cheap
Travelling on a budget could be a little bit of an oxymoron if you don't know how to start it. I have definitely made many, many mistakes on my travels abroad, but have come out a much wiser budget traveller. Even though I still have my splurges, I stick to a few general rules to keep my budget in-line. Travelling on a budget will not mean restricting yourself or having less of a great time, it is about getting the most from the trip your money can buy you have. I have put together five tips that can help keep your wallet full, and adventures cheap. Enjoy!

1. Always travel local.

Do everything as the locals do. This is by far the best advice I could give. Avoid tourist areas just like the plague when it comes to dining options. Walk around and explore to see where and what the locals are eating. You will end up surprised at just how much cheaper food is merely by walking a few streets from major attractions. Street food is your friend. And delicious. Focus on what transport the locals are using, chances are they aren't using the beer bus or over-priced taxis. Not only will you learn so much more about the country you're visiting this way, however the cost will be much easier to manage.

To be able to take it a step further, book your trips through local suppliers aswell. Not merely will this be cheaper than the big companies at home, it also supports the neighborhood communities you will end up visiting. Try TravelLocal, they will pair you with a local company at your destination based on the needs you have and budget.

2. Buy travel insurance.

It may seem strange to advise you to buy something when I'm also trying to help you save money. But if you leave home with only 1 thing, let it be travel insurance. You can't predict the near future, or the method that you will land after that Paragliding jump. Travel cover allows you to be prepared for every scenario, and avoid costly medical bills if something happens on the way. If you choose annual travel insurance rather than single policies, you will be covered for trips through the entire entire year and will pay substantially less. In case you aren't accident prone like me, you can't control the weather, other folks, or unforeseen circumstances such as for example flight cancellations. Just take action.

3. Walk.

While it isn't always a choice, there are a lot of cities that are ideal for walking. Assuming you have time on your side it is simple to walk to w here you will need to go, while preventing the high cost of public transportation. Amsterdam is really a terrific example and when you have at least two days to explore the city it is a lot more cost-effective to explore on your feet. You will have a better experience seeing the sites on your own rather than a stuffed tour bus. If you are worried about getting lost, some of the best adventure adventures began that way. Many cities also offer walking guides or tours, so execute a quick Google search before you leave.

Walkit.com has a great urban walking planner that gives you walking directions from Point A to Point B in cities throughout the UK.

4. Check out the freebies.

From free walking tours to free museum admission, check out what your destination might be able to give you for free. Most major cities have free walking tours, and only ask that you pay everything you think the tour was worth at the conclusion. You're under no obligation to tip, so can give as little or around your budget allows. A lot of major museums offer museum open days; the MOMA in NYC for instance offers free admission to their collection every Friday night and the Louvre in Paris does exactly the same the first Sunday of each month. Although t here are definitely exceptions (Italy!) many churches/temples/mosques offer free admission onto the lands. Regardless of your religious background, these sites offer among the best architectural wonders and artwork around.

F.Y.I. Nearly every museum in London is free to visit, the big cathedrals like Westminster Abbey are from as a result. Expect to pay �18 which is equal to around $27-28.

Notre-Dame in Paris, Milan Cathedral, and the Djenne Mosque in Mali are free, although for the latter you must be Muslim to go inside.

5. Be flexible.

In order to travel on a budget, it is important to chillllll out. You don't NEED to fly from a Friday, and that bed in the 4*star hotel is not worth starving yourself the rest of the trip. By allowing yourself to travel with some flexibility you will save money and enjoy the experience even more.

- Fly from a Tuesday or Wednesday. While not always the case, flights are often cheaper on nowadays.

- Book a hostel instead of a hotel. Hostels aren't for smelly 18 year olds anymore. Many hostels are beginning to re-brand themselves as boutique hostels. All of this means to you is nice room, small price.

- Be open to doing things that aren't on the itinerary. Once you travel you'll meet people, and frequently these people know about great places that Frommer didn't mention. Sometimes these things end up being the very best parts of a vacation, so don't hold onto that little bit of paper too tightly. These off-the-beaten-path adventures are, well, off-the-beaten-path. What does that mean for you? Less tourists means less opportunity for the locals to produce a buck, which might translate to more money in your pocket.

"to check here will probably be worth any cost or sacrifice."
? Elizabeth Gilbert

Jessica Galbraith, American travel writer living in the UK. Visit her blog The Fly Away American for more travel-related articles and blurbs on expat life.
Website: http://graversen82bart.jigsy.com/entries/general/See-The-World-5-Ways-to-Travel-on-the-Cheap